Passenger screening at U.S. airports will be revised in the next weeks and months with children getting less pat-downs and being allowed to keep their shoes on at security checkpoints, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told American senators on Tuesday.
The Transportation Security Administration confirmed the new pat-down policy saying children under 13 will instead be sent through metal detectors or the walk-through imaging machines multiple times to detect hidden explosives. Screeners will also use hand swabs to detect explosive trace.
"TSA anticipates these changes, which will begin rolling out in select airports this week, will continue to strengthen and streamline the security screening process for travelers," the Associate Press quoted TSA spokesman Greg Soule as saying. By Sept. 26, all U.S. airports will apply the new screening methods.
American travelers have complained of more invasive pat-downs on children. In April, the mother of a 6-year-old girl complained that her daughter underwent intense frisking at a New Orleans airport.
A YouTube video of the female TSA agent patting down the girl while her arms and legs were spread caused a public uproar.
American flyers also complained of removing their shoes during checkpoint screenings. The shoe check started after an al-Qaida suspect aboard an American Airlines flight was caught with a bomb built into his shoe in December 2001.